Daimler Benz Unimog 421
Series: Unimog
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Unimog 401 (1953–1956): Daimler-Benz Unimog model designation with the OM 636 diesel, 1,767 cm³ and 18.5 kW, after Boehringer's series start in Göppingen
The Unimog traces back to a first prototype built in 1946 by Erhard und Söhne in Schwäbisch Gmünd. Series production began at Boehringer in Göppingen, where about 600 examples of the U 70200 type were built by 1951; in autumn 1950 Boehringer sold this business to Daimler-Benz, which took over production at its Gaggenau plant in 1951, initially under the designation 2010. Daimler-Benz used the model designation 401 from 1953 to 1956.
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The Unimog 401 carries the OM 636 diesel engine with 1,767 cm³ of displacement, producing 18.5 kW, paired with a six-speed manual gearbox with two reverse gears. At 2,050 mm high, 3,520 mm long and 1,630 mm wide, the machine is compact enough for field tracks and narrow yard access.
The OM 636 engine came from Daimler-Benz's car and light commercial vehicle production, making it a unit from another vehicle segment that gave the Unimog its unusually refined running behaviour for a tractor. Four-wheel drive, portal axles and the high ground clearance of the Unimog concept allowed work off-road just as well as on paved roads, where the six-speed gearbox gave a travel speed unusually high for a farm tractor of the period.
When buying an early Unimog 401 used, authenticity and provenance matter most, as few examples survive from this early phase of Unimog production. The condition of the cooling system and the injection pump of the OM 636 should be checked, along with the tightness of the portal axles and any rebuilds or repairs, often carried out over the decades on such rare early vehicles.
Sources: SpecCodex-Register: Kennwerte des Modells Unimog 401
Technical data
Engine
| Engine | 29 kW – 44 kWcorrect |
|---|
Drivetrain and chassis
| Gearbox | manual gearbox gearbox, 2×4 gearscorrect |
|---|
What to check before buying
- Check the hour meter against the service records — a replaced instrument is the most common gap.
- Compare the data plate and chassis number with the papers.
- Shift the gearbox cold and warm — jumps only show up at temperature.
- Load the hydraulics and watch for sag.
- Ask about parts availability for this build year — the running costs hang on it.
A general list for this type of machine — no substitute for an inspection or an appraiser.
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This page carries 2 individual figures for this model. They come from 2 recorded sources; every figure can be traced there. What we cannot document is not here — we leave gaps open rather than estimate them.
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Sources: Wikipedia (retrieved August 2026) · How we check the data
Tractor in 3D section
Turn the model, look inside and click an assembly — each one is explained.
